TNAG-0813-FCO40-1018-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 25

葉錫恩

(MRS.) E, ELLIOTT.

TEL. 8-423414

Redacted

under FOI

exemption 40(2)

55. Kung Lok Road. Kwun Tong,

KOWLOON.

OUR

RRP:

YOUR REF:

(d) Since my report on prisons was made public, it has come to

my knowledge that the case of one

was reported to the Attorney-General through the Police or directly by a Mr. J.K. Duffy, a solicitor. We are not in a position to investigate the allegations, but they appear "prima facie" of substance, as the Crown withdrew the original charges against all the defendants except one.

(e) I understand that the same solicitor is now claiming on

behalf of clients damages from the Crown for false imprison- ment, and assault sustained by the two clients (Victoria District Court, Criminal Case 43 of 1978 refers. Leiter dated 19th May, 1978 with the Attorney General. Copy enclosed). (f) In Kowloon District Court, Criminal Case 470 of 1976, it

was alleged that the signature of one of the defendants had been forged.

A letter dated 25th January, 1977 dealing with the matter was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (now Judge Penlington) by prosecuting Counsel, and no reply to same has been received as to what action, if any, has been taken.

11.

Past failure to investigate or to investigate properly "frame- up" claims do not encourage one to submit names of persons who might well be persecuted later, unless one can be sure that proper machinery, independent of the police, exists for that purpose.

12.

You may well recollect that when I first reported corruption on mini-buses to you, you asked me to give my information to the Anti- Corruption Branch of the Police Force. I regretted that I could not do so, because I knew that the Police involved in the mini-bus racket would be the ones to carry out the investigations, or if not they, at least their colleagues in malpractices. One of those who did report, with my encouragement, now regrets having done so

The Govern-

ment has turned down all his pleas to be vindicated; his latest one was turned down by your goodself. I say this with great respect as no doubt you so acted after advice had been given to you on the matter.

Cont./13